Portable and adjustable reeled wire dispenser

ABSTRACT

A portable and adjustable reeled wire dispenser having a base platform with first and second side walls extending upwardly from the base platform and a plurality of adjustable rotatable members for accommodating various reel sizes to assist an individual in the installation of electric, cable wire or other material.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of prior U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/978,027 filed on Oct. 29, 2007.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The instant invention relates generally to wire dispensers, and inparticular to a portable and adjustable wire dispenser for accommodatingvarious sizes of spools, preferably to assist individuals atconstruction locations and industrial sites.

2. Description of the Related Art

The use of insulated electrical wire is widespread and is available toconstruction contractors, electricians, hobbyists and homeowners at mosthardware stores. The wire is generally obtained from a wholesaler ormaker in standard sized coils which are wrapped and held in a coilconfiguration by ties for transport or handling. The retailer, such asthe hardware store, must uncoil the wire to measure and sell desiredlengths to a customer. These coils generally have the same innerdiameter, but the cross section of the coil may vary, depending on thesize of wire.

The use of wire dispensers for electrical wire, cable or any othermaterial wrapped in a coil configuration is known in the art. These wiredispensers are designed to make the installation of wire an easier andquicker operation. Electricians regularly use large quantities ofelectrical wire during installation at either commercial or residentiallocations. In addition, various other technicians and contractors usewire dispensers to assist in the installation of many materials,including cable, copper and rope.

The instant invention relates to a portable and adjustable wiredispenser that assists an individual during the installation of wire,for example while attempting to install electrical wire. Many deviceshave been developed to provide some type of assistance to individualsengaged in the installation of wire, especially contractors andelectricians who often dispense large quantities of electrical wire.Ultimately, it is the design goal for such an apparatus to provide awire dispenser that is portable and adjustable to accommodate varioussizes of spools and reels, wherein the apparatus utilizes a plurality ofrotatable members that allow for a reel to freely rotate when in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The instant invention, as described further herein, imparts a novelwire, hose, rope, cord dispenser which encompasses the advantages ofother wire dispensers, but creates flexibility in the size of reel anindividual desires to use based on the adjustability of the rotatablemembers. The instant invention as illustrated herein, is clearly notanticipated, rendered obvious, or even present in any of the prior artmechanisms, either alone or in any combination thereof.

The primary object of the instant invention is to provide an apparatuscapable of dispensing wire material, wherein the apparatus contains aplurality of adjustable rotatable members to accommodate varying sizesof reels of wire.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide an apparatuscapable of dispensing wire material, wherein the apparatus is portablein nature to allow an individual the option to selectively move theapparatus to different locations during the installation of wirematerial.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide an apparatuscapable of dispensing wire material, wherein the apparatus eliminatesthe need for an individual to lift and elevate a reel off the ground andonto a support stand; instead the instant invention allows a reel tosimply be placed on a base platform with the adjustable rotatablemembers.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide an apparatuscapable of dispensing wire material, wherein the apparatus does notpossess a weight limitation regarding different reels since the reelsweight is distributed throughout the base platform and rotatable membersrather than solely on a support stand.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the apparatus for dispensing wire material in order that thedetailed description thereof that follows may be better understand, andin order that the present contribution to the art may be betterappreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will bedescribed hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of theclaims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of theinvention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited in its application to the details of construction and to thearrangements of the components set forth in the following description orillustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminologyemployed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not beregarded as limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the followingdetailed description of exemplary embodiments thereof, which descriptionshould be considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the portable and adjustablereeled wire dispenser in use having a base platform with a pair sidewalls and a plurality of adjustable rotatable members, and a pluralityof wheels to assist an individual in moving the wire dispenser todifferent locations and wherein the base platform is hingedly connectedto allow for easy transportation by an individual.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a preferred embodiment ofthe portable and adjustable reeled wire dispenser.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates a coiled apparatus 10 having a base platform 12,wherein first and second side walls 14A and 14B extend upwardly from thebase platform 12. Each side wall 14A and 14B contains a plurality ofapertures 16A arranged in a first row, and a plurality of apertures 16Barranged in a second row, wherein the second row of apertures 16B islocated substantially above the first row of apertures 16A. Furthermore,each row of apertures 16A and 16B is equidistantly disposed along theside walls 14A and 14B, wherein each aperture 16A and 16B is capable ofreceiving a plurality of rotatable members 18 for retaining a reel 20 ofwire. Moreover, each aperture 16A located in the first row is insubstantial alignment with each corresponding aperture 16B located inthe second row, wherein each pair of first and second row apertures 16Aand 16B are substantially perpendicular to each side wall 14A and 14B.

In one embodiment, the side walls 14A and 14B along with the baseplatform 12 are constructed from a single piece of material which isappropriately cut and shaped to produce the side walls 14A and 14B andthe base platform 12 as shown in FIG. 1. Alternatively, the side walls14A and 14B, along with the base platform 12 may be separatelyconstructed and attached together to form the apparatus illustrated inFIG. 1, using any type of standard type of fastening compound or device,including but not limited to a bolt or screw, or using any standardmethod such as welding, or any combination thereof.

The wire dispenser 10 further comprises a plurality of rotatable members18 each having a first and second end 22A and 22B, wherein the rotatablemembers 18 support and distribute the weight of the reel 20. Each end22A and 22B of each rotatable member 18 includes a protruding member 24extending outwardly, wherein each protruding member 24 is receivable ineach corresponding aperture 16A and 16B. Each rotatable member 18,preferably a cylindrical bar, is associated with the first and secondside wall 14A and 14B for retaining a reel 20 of wire while alsoallowing the reel 20 to freely rotate to dispense wire. Each rotatablemember 18 is attachable to the first and second side walls 14A and 14Bby placing the first end 22A of each rotatable member 18 into the firstside wall 14A such that the protruding member 24 couples with either afirst or second row aperture 16A and 16B, and likewise placing thesecond end 22B of each rotatable member 18 into the second side wall 14Bsuch that the protruding member 24 couples with the correspondingaperture 16A and 16B. The placement of each rotatable member 18 dependson the size of the reel 20 being used, and as such, the dispenser 10accommodates various reel sizes by simply adjusting the placement of therotatable members 18. An individual who desires to adjust each rotatablemember 18 to accommodate a different sized reel can simply depressprotruding member 24 from each aperture 16A and 16B and place therotatable member in another aperture 16A and 16B. Preferably, eachprotruding member 24 is a pin.

In use, an individual first determines the size of reel 20 necessary forthe task at hand, and after this determination is made, an individualadjusts and secures each rotatable member 18 at the appropriate locationto ensure proper contact and support with the reel 20, when anindividual places the reel 20 on the wire dispenser 10. Once eachadjustable rotatable member 18 is secured, an individual simply needs toroll the reel onto the rotatable members 18 and can immediately begin todispense wire. The instant invention eliminates the need to place sometype of cylindrical object through the core of the reel 20, and thenelevate the reel onto some type of support stand for use; rather thereel 20 in connection with the instant invention does not have to leavethe ground for placement on the wire dispenser 10. Furthermore, theinstant invention is not confined to one size of reel 20 for use becauseof the plurality of adjustable rotatable members 18 that are not lockedinto position as in most prior art wire dispensers.

In use, the plurality of rotatable members 18 is able to freely rotatein either a clockwise or counter-clockwise based on an individual's useand rotation of the reel 20. Additionally, multiple reels 20 areplaceable on the wire dispenser 10 simultaneously for use by anindividual.

In one preferred embodiment (shown in FIG. 1), the wire dispenser 10includes three rotatable members 18, wherein two of the rotatablemembers are placed in the first row of apertures 16A at a predetermineddistance apart, depending on the size of the reel 20 in use. A thirdrotatable member 18 is placed in the second row of apertures 16Bsubstantially above one of the rotatable members 18 located in the firstrow of apertures 16A. This configuration allows for an individual toplace a reel 20 on the wire dispenser 10 and feed the material containedwithin the reel 20 underneath the lower-most of the two rotatablemembers 18 which are disposed one above the other, in order to providesufficient tension upon the reel 20 to prevent the reel 20 fromdisengagement with the wire dispenser 10 due to light weigh of the reel20 through displacement of the material on the reel 20.

In alternate embodiments, an individual may vary either the amount orplacement of the rotatable members 18 depending on the specific use ofthe wire dispenser 10 or the specific type or size of the reel 20 in usewith the dispenser 10. Yet in other alternate embodiments, theconstruction of each side wall 14A and 14B may vary in design (as shownin FIG. 2) such that each side wall 14A and 14B extends upwardly toaccommodate a third rotatable member 18, wherein each side wall 14A and14B includes approximately half the amount of apertures 16B in thesecond row as in the first row. Furthermore, the amount of apertures 16Blocated in the second row may vary due to design of each side wall 14Aand 14B based upon an individual's preference and specific use of thewire dispenser 10.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 the instant invention permits easy inspectionof the reel 20 in use by an individual, such that a visual inspectioncan be made to determine how much wire is remaining on each reel 20.Furthermore, when the reel 20 has no material left to dispense, anindividual can simply remove the reel 20 without disturbing other reelsin use, and easily replace the empty reel 20 with a full reel 20.

An alternate embodiment of the instant invention is shown, wherein thewire dispenser 10 contains a plurality of wheels 26 located on the baseplatform 12 enabling an individual to move the wire dispenser 10 whilethe reel is located on the dispenser 10 instead of removing the reel andcarrying the dispenser 10 to another location for use. Each wheel 26 isattachable to the base platform 12 using any standard fastening meanssuch as a bolt or screw.

FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of the instant invention, whereinthe wire dispenser 10 includes three rotatable members 18, and whereineach side wall 14A and 14B extends upwardly approximately at themidpoint of each side wall 14A and 14B to accommodate a rotatable member18 in the second row of apertures 16B.

While several embodiments of the instant invention have been illustratedby way of example, it is apparent that further embodiments could bedeveloped within the spirit and scope of the instant invention. However,it is to be expressly understood that such modifications and adaptationsare within the spirit and scope of the instant invention, as set forthin the following claims.

1. A coiling apparatus comprising: a base platform; a first and secondside wall extending upwardly from said base platform, wherein said firstand second side wall are attached to said base platform by a fasteningmeans; a plurality of apertures arranged in a first row, equidistantlydisposed along said first and second side wall; a plurality of aperturesarranged in a second row, equidistantly disposed along said first andsecond side wall, wherein said second row of apertures is locatedsubstantially above said first row of apertures; and a plurality ofadjustable rotatable members, wherein each rotatable member includes afirst end and a second end, having a protruding member extendingoutwardly from each end such that each rotatable member is receivable insaid first and second side by coupling each pin with each correspondingaperture.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality ofsupporting side walls placeable against said first and second side wall.3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each adjustable rotatable membercomprises a cylindrical tube.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein eachprotruding member is a pin.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein aplurality of wheels are removeably attachable to the base platform by afastening means.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the means forfastening each wheel to said base platform is selected from the groupconsisting of screws, bolts or rivets.
 7. A portable adjustableapparatus for dispensing wire comprising: a base platform; a first andsecond side wall extending upwardly from said base platform, whereinsaid first and second side wall are attached to said base platform by afastening means; a plurality of apertures arranged in a first row,equidistantly disposed along said first and second side wall; aplurality of apertures arranged in a second row, equidistantly disposedalong said first and second side wall, wherein said second row issubstantially located above said first row such that each aperturelocated in the first row is substantially in alignment with eachcorresponding aperture located in the second row; and a plurality ofadjustable rotatable members, wherein each rotatable member includes afirst end and a second end, having a protruding member extendingoutwardly from each end such that each rotatable member is receivable insaid first and second side by coupling each pin with each correspondingaperture.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a plurality ofsupporting side walls placeable against said first and second side wall.9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein each adjustable rotatable membercomprises a cylindrical tube.
 10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein eachprotruding member is a pin.
 11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein aplurality of wheels are removeably attachable to the base platform by afastening means.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the means forfastening each wheel to said base platform is selected from the groupconsisting of screws, bolts or rivets.
 13. A portable adjustableapparatus for dispensing wire comprising: a plurality of interconnectedsections consisting of a base platform, a first and second side wall,wherein the first and second side wall are attachable to the baseplatform by a fastening means; a plurality of apertures equidistantlydisposed along said first and second side wall; and a plurality ofadjustable rotatable members, wherein each rotatable member includes afirst end and a second end, having a protruding member extendingoutwardly from each end such that each rotatable member is receivable insaid first and second side by coupling each pin with each correspondingaperture.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the means for fasteningsaid first and second side walls to said base platform is selected fromthe group consisting of screws, bolts, rivets, nail plates, adhesives orwelding.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a pluralityof supporting side walls placeable against said first and second sidewall.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein each adjustable rotatablemember comprises a cylindrical tube.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16,wherein each protruding member is a pin.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17,wherein a plurality of wheels are removeably attachable to the baseplatform by a fastening means.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18, whereinthe means for fastening each wheel to said base platform is selectedfrom the group consisting of screws, bolts or rivets.
 20. A portableadjustable apparatus for dispensing wire comprising: a base platform; afirst and second side wall extending upwardly from said base platform,wherein said first and second side wall are attached to said baseplatform by a fastening means; a plurality of apertures arranged in afirst row, equidistantly disposed along said first and second side wall;a plurality of apertures arranged in a second row, equidistantlydisposed along said first and second side wall, wherein said second rowis substantially located above said first row such that each aperturelocated in the first row is substantially in alignment with eachcorresponding aperture located in the second row; and a pair ofadjustable rotatable members located in said first row of apertures,wherein each rotatable member includes a first end and a second end,having a protruding member extending outwardly from each end such thateach rotatable member is receivable in said first and second side bycoupling each pin with each corresponding aperture, and a thirdadjustable rotatable member located in said second row of apertures,wherein the third rotatable member is located substantially above one ofthe rotatable members located in the first row of apertures.